RELIGIOUS SIMILARITIES
From as early as the year 2000, interest has grown immensely and intensified, most notably on how the major religious bodies that are Christianity and Islamic interrelate. Christianity indeed, is the most popular one followed closely by the Muslim group. Having a closer understanding of these two religious groups is undoubtedly crucial because it helps in the peaceful coexistence of society. Most of the time, theological experts and researchers have grappled with the question and, in various ways, tried to shed light on the difference between the groups and found a number. However, it has come to the reality of most scholars and researchers that to get a clear understanding of both groups, it is also essential to get a clear picture of the similarities of the groups. The fundamental question that has always been asked is if they share a likeness or not. Indeed both groups as studies have shown share a lot. The two major groups share a similarity in three significant ways, and they include a belief in a monotheistic God, the manner of prayer and faith in Jesus as a messenger, and a variety of cultures such as pork eating and veil in women.
Firstly, Both Muslims and Christain believe in a monotheistic God. Christianity believes in the existence of one God and not in a dualistic appearance of gods as other religious groups such as Manicheism. Indeed biblical perspective has a lot of evidence from both the old testament to the new proof that clearly states in the belief of one God. . Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Additionally, Both Muslims and Christianity share various cultures. Culture, as defined as a way of life of a particular group, varies among groups, but for Muslims and Christians, most of them are the same. For example, pork eating in both groups is highly prohibited and is treated with contempt. Muslims, for example, takes this law seriously, and it would be a severe offense to rare pork in Muslim dominated countries like the middle east. The holy Quran points against this and, in (Quran 5:3), states, ” Forbidden to you is that which dies itself, and blood, and flesh of swine.” Indeed Muslims have been given clear instructions, and one of the things they should avoid is the consumption of swine flesh because it is not good healthwise.
On the other hand, Christianity also forbids the use of swine because it is considered unclean. In (Deu 14:8), the bible states,” And the pig is dirty because though it has a division in the horn of its foot, it does not chew the cud.” Another culture that the two groups share is modesty in dressing, especially on women. The Muslim community has, for decades, maintained a strict adherence to the dressing, particularly on women stating that they must wear veils to maintain holiness. In Quran (33:59), the bible states, ” O Prophet, tell your wife and daughters and women of believers to draw their cloak around them so that they will be recognized and not annoyed for Allah is forgiving.” In the same context, Paul instructs worship to the women in Corinth and states in 1 Cor 11:6), ” If she refuses to wear a head covering, she should shave, but since that is embarrassing, she should cover her head to show she is under authority”.
Lastly, the two religions share a similarity in how they conduct there prayers and profession of Jesus as a messenger. Muslim performs prostrations that involve reverently submitting their body in a certain way to show respect to their God. For Christians, the evidence is available in the old testament and the old testament. For example, in (Joshua 5:14) states, “At this Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence.” Another evidence is available in the new testament when Jesus moves towards Gethsemane to pray, the bible records in (Matt 26:39), and it states, ” He went on a little farther, and bowed with his face to the ground, praying.” The Muslims, too, performs this kind of prostrations, and it is evidenced in how they pray. The holy Quran states in (Quran 22:7) ” O , you who believe! Bow down, prostrate yourself and adore your Lord and do good”. Another evidence in (Quran 32:15) indicates ” Only those who believe in the signs ,who, when they are recited fall down in prostration”. Both religions also profess Jesus Christ as a messenger of God. The Muslim believes that Allah sent Jesus and in (Quran 4:157) clearly states that ” then they said in boast, we killed Jesus, the son of Mary and a messenger of Allah. In the same line, Christians believe that God sent Jesus because, in (John 17:3), it states that ” and Jesus Christ, the one you sent on earth.” Further, (John 5:30) says that ” My judgment is just because I carry out the will of the father the one who sent me.”
In conclusion, many people believe that Muslims and Christians are so different, yet as both the holy books detach, there is indeed a thin line that separates them. It should be noted that, however, much the similarities could be evidence in both the sacred book, they are distinct in a particular way, and there is a thin line that separates them. Indeed it emerges that the similarities in prostration,cultures, and oneness of God are much more intimate than most of us know. It is essential, therefore, for both groups to understand each other in those principles for peaceful coexistence.
Refrence
Haleem, A. (2004). The Quran. Newyork: oxford university press.
The Holy Bible. New international version. Illinois: Tyndale House, 2010. print. (McGrath)